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Construction workers engaged in blasting Guromebi Rock for construction of a naval base against residents’ opposition in Gangjeong

The decision by police to barricade the Gangjeong harbor to prevent residents from entering the water to protest the blasting of the village’s Gureombi Rock for a naval base construction effort in Jeju was not a lawful execution of their duties, the Supreme Court recently concluded.

The decision upheld the villagers’ acquittal six years after they were referred for trial following their vehement protests over the police barricade measures.

The Supreme Court’s third division under Hon. Min Yoo-sook announced on Jan. 2 that it had upheld an original ruling acquitting Cho Gyeong-cheol, 58, and four other Gangjeong residents indicted in 2012 on charges including obstruction of the execution of special official duties.

“The crime of obstruction of performance of official duties only applies when the execution of duties by government employees is lawful,” the court said, echoing the conclusions of the first and second trial courts which found the police barricade to be an unlawful measure.

“Even cases of violence or intimidation are not seen as obstruction of performance of official duties when directed at officials engaging in enforcement actions lacking legality,” the court added.

On Feb. 26, 2012 – 10 days before the blasting of Gureombi Rock in Gangjeong – police arrested 16 activists and others opposing the measure at the scene of the naval base construction on the Gureombi coast. The following morning on Feb. 27, large numbers of police officers were enlisted to barricade the entrance to the Gangjeong harbor. A clash subsequently erupted with police officers at the harbor blocking Gangjeong residents from delivering food and medications to protestors on the shore.

By Yeo Hyeon-ho, senior staff writer

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